Poster panel



June 20, 1950 c. w. COVINGTON El AL 5 5 POSTER PANEL Filed June 26, 19443 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 June 20, 1950 Filed June 26, 1944 W Q I;

C. W. COVINGTON ET AL POSTER PANEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1950 c. w.COVINGTON ET AL 2,512,519

POSTER PANEL Filed June 26, 1944 :s Sheets-Sheet s Patented June 2Q,1950 UNITED STATES]: PATE T OFFICE Charles W. Covington and James E.Mann, Richmond, Va., assignorsto General Outdoor Advertising 00., Inc.,a corporation of New Jersey Application June 26, 1944, Serial No.542,167

. 1. This invention relates monly called a billboard, and has for itsobject the provision of a poster panel which has the appearance andfunctions of a conventional poster panel but which permits the temporarydisplaoeposter upon the poster panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poster panel upon'whichthe poster may be replaced without subjecting the frame of the poster tothe paste or adhesive which must be used to apply the poster and whichremoves the poster panel from the frame for servicing purposes so thatwhen the adhesive or paste and poster are applied, any paste that maydrip from the brushes and other equipment will not fall upon orstrikeand disfigure the frame.

These and other features of the invention will be seen from thefollowing detailed specification read in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part thereof and in which- Fig. 1 is aperspective view of a poster panel moved from its display position tothe servicing position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing theposter panel in servicing position and the normal display position ofthe poster panel shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2, with the poster panel shown in display position;

Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of a modified form of the poster panel,shown in servicing position;

Fig. 5' is a vertical section of the modification shown in Fig. 4 withthe poster panel in display position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a second modification of the posterpanel, shown in servicing position;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a second modification of the posterpanel, shown in display position; I

Fig. 8.is a vertical section of a third modification of the posterpanel, shown in servicing position; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a third modifica tion of the posterpanel, shown in display position.

Referring to the drawings, the poster panel H is constructed ofsuitablevertical supports l2,

9 Claims. (Cl. 40125) to a poster panel, comhorizontal members l3, andsupports M and I5, which may be of conventional construction supportingthe poster panel frame l6 which encloses the border [1. Within theborder is the display panel l8 upon which a poster bearing anadvertising display or message is applied by means of suitable adhesivesor other attaching means.

The display panel I8 is supported upon the poster panel framework bymeans of the pivoted arms 19 which are pivotally secured to the posterpanel at 20 and pivoted upon the vertical frame members 12 at the pivots2|. The arms l9 may be extended beyond the pivots 2| to counterweights22 to which they are pivotally secured at the pivots 23. Thecounterweights may be of any suitable size and construction and may, ifdesired, be secured together by means of the tierod 24, which wouldfacilitate their alignment when operated.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the display panel l8 may be swung from itsnormaldisplay position adjacent the poster panel upon the pivoted armsl9 into the servicing position in which the display panelis swungforward and below its display position to bring it within reach of theattendants for the purposes of replacing, mending, or altering thedisplay poster mounted upon the display panel. i

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the vertical counterweight22,.shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are replaced by independentcounterweights 32 which permit the shortening of the pivoted arms I 9.The operation of the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is identicalwith that of the first form herein described.

In the second modified form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the counterweightshave been eliminated and the display panel is moved from its normaldisplay position adjacent the frame by means of the cables 42 which aresecured to the topof the display panel at 43 and run over the pulley 44upon the vertical frame member and are wound uponthe sheave 45 by meansof the crank 46. In this modification the pivoted arms l9 need notprojectbeyond the vertical frame members l2 to which they are pivoted inthe manner shown in the other modifications.

In the third modified form shown in Figs, 8 and 9. the method ofsupporting the poster panel is varied and the poster panel is supportedupon the poster panel frame structure by means of the longpivoted arms59, which are pivoted at to the upper portion "of the display panel topermit the panel to maintain its vertical position by meansofitsown'weight. The pivoted arms 59 are pivoted at 6| to the poster panelsupports l5 and the structure is operated by means of the cables 52secured to the pivoted arms 59 or to the poster panel at 63. The cables62 run over the pulleys 64 which are secured either to the verticalmembers of the poster panel frame or to the supports IS. The cables arewound upon the sheave 85 which is operated by means of the crank 66.

Obviously, the proportions and dimensions of the various structuralelements can be modified over a wide range and the number and locationof the pivoted arm members shown in the several modifications of theinvention may be varied in number, size and form.

Method of operation The display anel I8 is for purposes of display,normally in the position shown in Figs. 3, 5, 7, and 9. It is adjacentthe poster panel frame I6 and within the border ll. In the conventionalposter panels known prior to this invention, the posters upon thedisplay panel 18 were applied to the display panel while it remained inthe display position, as the display panel was conventionally anintegral and stationary part of the poster panel structure.

Because of the size of the poster panels and the fact that the displayis normally mounted at some height above the ground in order to increasethe visibility of the display, the application of posters to the displaypanel was accompanied by considerable difiiculty. The posters werenormally applied with long handled brushes, which were difiicult ofmanipulation and which reduced the control of the attendant in applyingthe poster to the panel. The large posters which are conventionallyused, are normally difficult to handle because of the size of the sheetsand the fact that they must be handled upon long brushes or otherapplicators.

Not only was the matter of applying the poster a problem of somedifficulty because of these factors, but when the adhesive was appliedto the display panel so that the poster would adhere thereto, it wasdifficult to apply the adhes'ive without spreading some of it upon theadjaceiit' border of the display panel and thus smearing and disfiguringsaid border. Similarly, when the adhesive was applied, some of it wasinevitably splashed about and fell upon the poster panel structure andthe frame within which the display panel was conventionally mounted.

In the use of the poster panel of this invention the display panel I8 isnormally in its display position but can be swung therefrom into avertical position below its normal position, and preferably somewhatremoved therefrom by lifting the counter-weight and swinging the displaypanel into its servicing position. In this position the display panelcan be more conveniently attended to and the posters removed therefromand replaced by new posters. Conventionally the posters are secured bymeans of a paste or adhesive in liquid form and the poster to be removedis scraped from the display panel. This scraping can be convenientlydone inthe servicing position and the new poster easily applied, as allportions of the display panel are practically within reach of theattendant.

Inasmuch as the display panel is removed from the border I! for thepurposes of servicing, the application of adhesive to the poster panelis not accompanied by any danger of smearing or disfiguring the borderand the poster panel and the ground surrounding it are thus more easilykept in neat and clean condition. This permits the use of a standardborder I! and frame It, with a number of display posters withoutrequiring the constant renewal of the painting or finishing of the frameand border parts and thus effects a substantial economy in themaintenance of the poster panel.

When the servicing has been attended to the display panel l8 may bereadily swung back into its display position where it will be held bythe counter-weights or by means of locking the sheaves if cables areused for the purpose of moving the display panel.

In the third modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a series of latches 61are provided to engage the lower edge of the display panel l8 and tolock the display panel against displacement from the vertical plane inwhich it is best displayed.

Inasmuch as the structures for operating the display panel are extremelysimple, no more elaborate description or their use is attempted.

Having thus shown and described three embodiments of the invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is intended to claim all novelty inherentin the invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

We claim:

1. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, :amovable display panel within theborder, and means upon the supporting structure for moving the displaypanel from its display position within the border to a servicingposition removed therefrom.

2. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, and means pivoted to the supporting structure and the displaypanel movably to support the display panel in a vertical positionadjacent the frame and to permit the display panel to be swung into avertical servicing position in front of and below the display position.

3'. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a, border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, and a plurality of arms pivoted to the display panel and to thesupporting structure to permit the display panel to be swung from adisplay position adjacent the frame to a servicing position below and infront of the display position. 4. A poster panel comprising a supportingstructure, a frame mounted thereon, a border within the frame, a movabledisplay panel within the border, and a plurality of links secured to thedisplay panel and to the supporting structure by which the display panelmay be lifted to and from a display position adjacent the frame to aservicing position removed therefrom.

5. A' poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a, border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, and means upon the supporting structure for moving the displaypanel from its display position within the border to a service positionbelow and in front of its displa position.

6. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, amovable display panel within theborder, and pivoted means upon the supporting structure for swinging thedisplay panel from its display position within the border to a serviceposition below and in front of its display position.

7. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, a plurality of links pivoted intermediate their ends upon thesupporting structure and secured at one end to the display panel forswinging the display panel from its display position within the borderto a. service position removed therefrom, and a counterweight upon theother end of the links.

8. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, a plurality of links pivoted to the supporting structure and thedisplay panel for swinging the display panel from its display positionwithin the border to a service position removed therefrom, and means tocontrol the movement of the display panel when swung upon the pivots.

9. A poster panel comprising a supporting structure, a frame mountedthereon, a border within the frame, a movable display panel within theborder, means upon the supporting structure for moving the display panelfrom its display position within the border to a servicing position 5removed therefrom, and means for controlling the movement of the displaypanel. I

CHARLES W. COVINGTON. JAMES E. MANN.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,220,722 Brand Mar. 27, 19171,317,274 Dierkes Sept. 30, 1919 1,333,942 Slade Mar. 16, 1920 1,394,572Neil et a1. Oct. 25, 1921 1,855,790 Curry Apr. 26, 1932 1,926,526 GeigerSept. 12, 1933 2,084,818 Neil June 26, 1937 2,125,994 Doering Aug. 9,1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 243/26 Austria Jan. 23, 1926

